We Coloradans already know that Democrat gubernatorial candidate and Denver mayor John Hickenlooper doesn’t think much of folks outside his liberal metropolitan jurisdiction. Now, it’s documented on video. My friend and fellow Colorado resident Michael Sandoval at National Review has the scoop on Hickenlooper’s public contempt for “backwards” rural Colorado residents — which he shared with a left-wing interviewer late last year.

Hickenlooper: I think a couple things, I mean, you know, the tragic death of Matthew Shepard occurred in Wyoming. Colorado and Wyoming are very similar. We have some of the same, you know, backwards thinking in the kind of rural Western areas you see in, you know, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico.

Interviewer: We’re neighbors.

Hickenlooper: Right. And in a sense we’re all a community. And, at the same time, Denver has, I think, one of the more robust, politically active gay and lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities, really in the United States.

Not only is the trashing of rural Western residents Snob-ama-esque, but it also channels the late entrenched porker John Murtha’s trashing of his own constituents as racist rednecks. It’s exactly the kind of out-of-touch elitism that has set the Tea Party movement afire here and across the country over the past two years.

The damning revelation comes as Hickenlooper has failed to break 50 percent in the polls and has failed to enthuse his own supporters. Via Kelly Maher at WhoSaidYouSaid:

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper spoke Tuesday at the City Club of Denver. In response to a question about the initiative process, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate described a lack of citizen enthusiasm.

“And I think the initiative process, if nothing else, does get people invested. It turns some people off but it does get some people invested. And that’s part of, I think, what we all need to do. How come there’s not 200 people in this room? Right? You’ve got the mayor of Denver who’s running for governor; be the first, I don’t know if the first ever, but certainly the first mayor of Denver who’d be elected governor of Colorado in 75 or 100 years. No one’s . . . You know, I go around the state and I don’t get huge crowds wanting [to] take apart what I said, or challenge me on various issues. There’s a certain nonchalance that people kind of . . . ‘Ah, that’s government, we don’t really have to worry about it.’ You know, it’s not, it’s not what we need.”

Big government, pro-amnesty, trash-talking John Hickenlooper’s stagnation is set against a jaw-dropping surge by the most viable conservative candidate in the race, American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo. I endorsed him earlier this month and am actively supporting his campaign (full disclosure: I’ve donated $100 and am attending several rallies for the campaign). As I noted two weeks ago:

Plagued by mounting ethics allegations and other campaign woes, [GOP candidate Dan] Maes’ candidacy has imploded. His fund-raising is on life support and Tea Party activists who initially buoyed his candidacy are abandoning him. Some GOP bureaucrats are more worried about the Republican ballot positioning/fund-raising consequences of abandoning Maes than they are about the destructive policies Democrat John Hickenlooper will put in place if he wins the governor’s mansion. It’s that slavish adherence to partisan interests over principle that led to the Tea Party movement in the first place.

Tancredo has brought together a broad coalition of Republicans, conservatives, and libertarians, grass-roots activists and elected local and state officials alike. I haven’t agreed with every stance he has taken or statement he has made, but he is a proven, tested public leader — committed to core conservative principles and our national sovereignty — who has the passion, energy, competence, and organizational skills to beat job-killing liberal John Hickenlooper. Tancredo can cross the finish line first and pull Colorado back from the progressive brink as Obama drags down America.

Voters on the center-Right in Colorado have been blessed with the time and opportunity to change course before Election Day and unite behind one viable conservative candidate with the momentum to win. Seize the moment.

In the past two weeks, Tancredo has narrowed the gap even more to between 4-5 points and raised a boat load of money. Look out for more ground-breaking poll numbers soon. While Maes’ grass-roots supporters continue to abandon him in droves, Tancredo has picked up the endorsement of the very state Republican who nominated Maes at the GOP convention, Kevin Lundberg, GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn, and more and more heavy-hitting local and state GOP support by the hour. More than 1,300 GOP faithful showed up to support Tancredo in Aurora this weekend. Tancredo has been hitting Hickenlooper hard on the airwaves. It’s a two-man race:

GOP chair Dick Wadhams has essentially signaled to the party base that a vote for Maes is a wasted vote and that whatever party status consequences there may be if Maes falls under 10 percent (which will most likely happen), those can be dealt with after the election. That message to loyal Republicans must be spread far and wide. Yes, the road to November was rocky and circuitous, like many a Colorado trail. But the path to conservative victory is now clear — and it is eminently winnable.

Beltway GOP strategists are always lecturing conservatives to be pragmatic and get behind the most viable conservative candidate. Now is the time to put money and energy where their mouths are. The Tancredo surge, like so many surges across the country, has defied all expectations. “They said it couldn’t be done,” Tancredo is telling voters on the campaign trail. “Just watch me.”

Watch — and help Tancredo leave trash-talking Hickenlooper in the dust.

Tancredo’s website is here.

***

Update: A new poll just out this afternoon from Magellan Strategies (a Colorado-based polling company that serves mostly Republican clients) shows Hick at 44, Tanc at 43 and Maes falling beneath 10 percent to 9 percent.

Data and analysis here.

Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies today released the results of an automated survey of 1,067 likely voters in the state of Colorado looking at the race for Governor. The findings show Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and former Congressman Tom Tancredo in a statistical tie. Among likely voters, Democrat John Hickenlooper has 44%, American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo has 43%, and embattled Republican candidate Dan Maes has 9% support. The generic “other candidate” has 2%, and only 2% responded as undecided.

Since our Colorado Governor survey on August 25th, support for Dan Maes has plummeted from 27% to 9%, a total of 18 points. It is clear the vast majority of former Dan Maes supporters are moving into the Tom Tancredo column. Since our August survey, support for Tom Tancredo has increased from 17% to 43%, a total of 27 points. John Hickenlooper has not been able to reach the crucial 50% threshold, and has in fact dropped 2 points since our August survey, from 46% to 44%.

Colorado blogger Ben DeGrow weighs in on Hickenlooper’s “bitter clinger” moment.

A few weeks ago I never would have guessed that Tom Tancredo would get a realistic shot to win the race for governor. But with Dan Maes’ continued delusional self-immolation (MP3) and John Hickenlooper’s unwanted controversies and unenthused crowds, we might just be looking at the biggest story of this crazy 2010 election season unfolding before our eyes.

Kelly Maher: Hick needs to apologize…

– I am not O.K. with someone who wants to be governor of our WHOLE state saying there is “backwards thinking” in rural Colorado.

– I am ALSO not O.K. with someone who wants to be the chief executive of our state including Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico in that “backwards thinking.” Whoever is the next governor of Colorado will be working with the Western Governors’ Association (among many other groups) on issues of regional concern that require mutual respect.

ORDER IT NOW

– I live in the Capitol Hill area of Denver. When I go to events and see a vibrant LGBT community, I’m less “surprised” than the mayor sounds in this clip. Finding an enclave of people in any community who can offer support and relate to your experiences is an important part of life. When I see the LGBT community come together, I find joy in knowing they have that.

The murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998 was awful; to see that happen to any human being is heartbreaking. That, however, should not be the basis to paint any people, based on where they live, with so broad a brush as the mayor did. He should apologize.

***

Endorsements of Tom Tancredo

• Colorado Mule Deer Association

• Colorado Sportsmen Wildlife Fund

• Hear Us Now! (Denver Tax Day Tea Party)

• Tea Party Patriots of Denver

• Bob Schaffer

– Colorado State Board of Education Chairman and former Republican Congressman

• Mike Coffman

– Congressman (R-CO)

• Grayson Robinson

– County Sheriff, Arapahoe

• William Frangis

– County Sheriff, Elbert

• Gerald Wallace

– County Sheriff, Montezuma

• Bob Beauprez

– Former Republican Congressman and State Republican Party Chair

• Joel Hefley

– Former Republican Congressman, El Paso County – 5th Congressional District

• Lynn Hefley

– Former Republican State Representative, El Paso County

• Michelle Malkin

– National Columnist / Conservative Blogger / News Commentator

• Tron Simpson

– Radio Host

• Chris Cruz

– Radio Host, 600 KCOL Mornings

• Gail Fallen

– Radio Host, 600 KCOL Mornings

• Mark Levin

– Radio Host, National Talk

• Sunny Roseman

– Radio Show Host KLZ Radio 560AM

• Jim Pfaff

– Radio Talk Show Host

• Jimmy Sengenberger

– Radio Talk Show Host

• Mike Rosen

– Radio Talk Show Host

• Amy Oliver

– Radio Talk Show Host and Director of the Colorado Transparency Project

• Michael Brown

– Radio Talk Show Host, KOA

• Cheri Gerou

– Republican State Representative

• Cindy Acree

– Republican State Representative

• Kent Lambert

– Republican State Representative

• Marsha Looper

– Republican State Representative

• Spencer Swalm

– Republican State Representative

• Greg Brophy

– Republican State Senator

• Shawn Mitchell

– Republican State Senator

• Ted Harvey

– Republican State Senator

• Josh Penry

– Republican State Senator & Former Minority Leader

• Russell Pearce

– Republican State Senator, Arizona

• Mike Kopp

– State Senate Minority Leader

• Steve King

– Congressman, (R-IA)

• Mike Sheeley

– Former 7th Congressional Republican Candidate

• Rick Grice

– Former Arapahoe County Republican Men’s Club President

• Bo Cottrell

– Former Chair, Arapahoe County Republicans

• Lynne Cottrell

– Former Chair, Arapahoe County Republicans

• Tory Brown

– Former Chair, Arapahoe County Republicans

• Nathan Chambers

– Former Chair, Arapahoe County Republicans and current Republicans for Tom Tancredo State Chairman

• Kelsey Alexander

– Former Chair, Douglas County GOP

• John Ransom

– Former Chair, Douglas County Republicans and grassroots activist

• E.E. Casey Hayes

– Former Democrat State Representative

• Eric Prinzler

– Former Republican State Representative

• Frank DeFilippo

– Former Republican State Representative

• Mark Cloer

– Former Republican State Representative

• Bruce Cairns

– Former Republican State Senator

• Cliff Dodge

– Former Republican State Senator

• Ed Jones

– Former Republican State Senator

• Tom Blickensderfer

– Former Republican State Senator and Senate Majority Leader

• Matt Dunn

– Former State House Candidate

• Chris Paulson

– Former State Representative/House Majority Leader

• Andy McElhany

– Former State Senator/Senate Minority Leader, El Paso County

• Judson Phillips

– Founder, Tea Party Nation

• Jon Caldara

– President, Independence Institute, and KOA Talk Show Host

• Mike Short

– Tea Party Patriots of Denver

• Francesca Subramanian

– co-founder and board member of a local liberty group

• Keith Peterson

– Co-founder and Chairman, Hear Us Now! (organizers of the 2009 and 2010 Denver Tax Day Tea Parties)

• Brian Pike

– co-founder and former president of Revive Our American Republic (ROAR)

• Mitch Knutson

– co-founder, Coffee4Conservatives

• Margo Knutson

– co-founder/developer, Coffee4Conservatives

• Brian Campbell

– co-organizer, first Denver Tea Party rally 2/27/09, co-organizer of the 2009 Denver Tax Day Tea Part

• Maria Fullinwider

– co-organizer, Genesee Conservatives

• Patricia Bechtoldt

– co-organizer, Genesee Conservatives

• Marla Gillespie

– co-organizer, In God We Trust 912, member Denver/Front Range 912

• Annette Cole

– co-organizer, Rocky Mountain Tea Party

• Grace Charree

– co-organizer, The Original Colorado Tea Party, and organizer of the Rocky Mountain Tea Party

• Kathy Baker

– co-organizer, The Original Colorado Tea Party, former co-organizer, Evergreen/Conifer Tea Party

• Jim Dyer

– Commissioner (R), Arapahoe County

• Janet Rowland

– Commissioner, Mesa County

• Isaac Smith

– Conservative Activist

• Mary Frangis

– Conservative Activist

• Erick Erickson

– Conservative Blogger, Redstate.com

• Ross Kaminsky

– Conservative Blogger, Rossputin.com

• Rose Evans

– Former Administrative Officer, EPA Denver (Reagan Administration)

• Cleve Tidwell

– Former Colorado Senate Republican Candidate

• Jay Lower

– Former Executive Director, Colorado Contractors Association

• Dan Kopelman

– Former President of Denver Metro Young Republicans and Former President of Jewish Republicans of Col

• Eric Field

– Former President, Colorado Jewish Republicans

• Jimmy Lakey

– Former Republican candidate for Congress and KNUS host

• Jim Welker

– Former Republican State Representative

• John McElderry

– Former Republican State Representative

• Lauri Clapp

– Former Republican State Representative

• Matt Knoedler

– Former Republican State Representative

• Pam Rhodes

– Former Republican State Representative

• Rob Witwer

– Former Republican State Representative

• Ruth Prendergast

– Former Republican State Representative

• Jim Reeves

– Former Republican State Representative and former Arapahoe County Assessor

• Joe Stengel

– Former Republican State Representative and Minority Leader

• Hugh Fowler

– Former Republican State Senator

• Maynard Yost

– Former Republican State Senator

• Steve Durham

– Former Republican State Senator

• Tom Wiens

– Former Republican State Senator

• Cliff Bryan

– Former State Representative

• John Herzog

– Former State Representative

• Steve Erickson

– Former State Representative

• Glenn Rhoades

– Founder – The Colorado Nanotechnology Initiative and Former Republican 7th CD, SBOE Candidate

• Virginia Young

– founder, Broomfield 912, founder and co-organizer, In God We Trust 912

• Nancy McKiernan

– founder, Tea Party Brewing

• Brian Wilson

– grassroots activist

• Guy Pacot

– grassroots activist

• Katherine Vitale

– Grassroots activist

• Leslie White

– grassroots activist

• Nancy Wenlock

– grassroots activist

• Rob Timmons

– grassroots activist

• Crista Huff

– Grassroots activist / political teacher/writer

• Jen Raiffie

– Grassroots activist and Adams County Republican precinct committee person

• Mick and Vickie Murray

– Grassroots activists in the conservative movement, North El Paso County

• Phil and Marge North

– Grassroots Activists, Tea Party from Evergreen

• Retired Col. David Hughes

– Grassroots Democrat Activist , El Paso County

• Lou Schroeder

– Grassroots Democrats for Tom Tancredo, Chairman, Arapahoe County

• Abigail Keating

– Grassroots organizer, Clear Creek Tea Party

• Jenny Hatch

– Grassroots speaker Denver Tea Party rally 2/27/09 and organizer of the Constitution Tea Party

• Robert Marshall

– Hear Us Now! secretary

• Craig Jones

– Hear Us Now! treasurer

• Charles Patricoff

– Hear Us Now! vice-chairman

• Michael Jude

– Heritage Foundation Member

• Mike Dunafon

– Mayor Pro Tempore Glendale

• Joe Wilson

– Mayor, Erie

• Mr. & Mrs. Marak Kudlis

– Parents of Marten Kudlis

• Karen Kataline

– President, Jewish Republicans of Colorado

• Cinamon Watson

– Republian Strategist

• Charcie Russell

– Republican Activist

• Steve Schuck

– Republican Activist

• Ted Martin

– Republican Activist, Arapahoe County

• Gary Bohall

– Republican Activist, El Paso County

• Dr. & Mrs. William G. Herron